Wire twisting and bending machine



J. A. BUTLER.

WIRE TWISTING AND BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1 918.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET JTUUQTli'OT' J a. m;

J. A. BUTLER.

WIRE TWISTING AND BENDING MACHWE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1918.

1,400,724. Patented m. 2 0, 1921.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iwvenrior.

J. A. BUTLER.

WIRE TWISTING AND BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-29, 1918.

1 #100,724 Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I can J. AJBU TLER.

WIRE TWISTING AND BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATlGN FILED JAN. 29, 1918. 1,400,724, Patented Dec. 20, 1921..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. A BUTLER.

WIRE TWISTING AND BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-29,1918- LQQJQB I Patented Dec. 20, 19211.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- VII/21111175 JAMES A. BUTLER, ()1? IIEEDHAM,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGIJUR- TO BOSTON PIANO SUPPLY COMPANY, OF NORVVOOD,MASSACHUSsETTS, A CORIEORATION 0:5 MASSA- CI-IUSETTS.

WIRE TWISTING AND BEI DlBl G MACHINE.

Application filed January 29", 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', JAMES A. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Need ham, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improved Wire Twisting and BendingMachine, or which the following is a specification. reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention has reference to improve ments in machines for effectingthe twisting together of the arms oft a wire staple, for cutting saidarms to a predetermined length, when necessary, and for bending saidarms, after such twisting. In its more specific embodiment hereinafterparticularly described the invention relates to an improved machineadapted to operate upon the end portions of a wire staple insertedtransversely through the felts and shank ota piano hammer in order totwist together said end portions of such wire staple and, if necessary,to out said end portions to a predetermined length and, finally, to bendsuch twisted portions against said hammer.

Une object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed which is adapted to operate on the wires of piano hammers ofvarious sizes from bass hammers to treble hammers.

Another object of the invention is to improve the wire twisting andcutting appliances as well as the wire bending mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

The invention consists in the means for holding and feeding the articleunder opera tion a distance toward the twister or cutter mechanismdetermined by a dimension of the article.

The invention also consists in the construction of the twistermechanism.

The invention also consists in the means for bending the twisted wire.

The invention also consists in such other novel features of constructionand combination of parts as shall hereinafter be more fully describedand pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, represents a side elevation of the improved machine.

Fig. 2, represents a plan view of the improved machine, parts of thesame being shown in section as on line 2-42, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, represents a rear end view of the machine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24), 1921.

Serial No. 214,315.

Fig. 4, represents a sectional view taken on line l-l Fig. 1 to showportions of the driving means in plan view.

Fig. 5, represents an end view of portions oi? the machine to show thework carrier and some of its related mechanism.

Fig. 6, represents a view in elevation looking in the directionindicated by arrow ('3 in Fig. 2 to illustrate the wire bending means,parts of the same being in section.

'Fig. 7, represents a plan view of a piano hammer prior to the twistingand bending of its wire bythis machine.

Fig. 8, represents a cross sectional view of the same on the line of thewire.

F in. 9, represents the operation of twisting the wire, just prior tocutting the same.

Fig. 10, represents the operation of bending the twisted and cut wireagainst the felt.

Fig. 11, represents a sectional view taken on line 11-11 Fig. 2 to showa clutch of ordinary construction preferably used in this machine.

Fig. 12, represents a sectional view taken on line 12-12 Fig. 11.

Similar characters of reference design-at corresponding partsthroughout.

Without thereby restricting this invention it is to be noted that thespecific embodiment thereof herein described refers to a machine adaptedto operate upon the felt securing wires or staples of piano hammers. Asshown in Figs. 7 and 9 these hammers comprise the shank or member a onwhich is mounted the backing felt 5 embraced by the outer or face felt0. It is customary to secure these felts 5 and c to the shank or membera by means of adhesive and, further, it has been theoristom to. drillthrough said felts and shank a pair of converging perforations throughvhich the arms (Z, d of a wire staple s have been passed, the ends ofwhich staple have been twisted together,-by means of a hand operatedtool, cut oil when they exceeded a predetermined length, and bent.against the felt 0. One reason for carrying out these operations by handhas'been that in a set of such hammers the transverse dimensions of thehammers through the felts Z) and o vary from the bass hammers throughthe entire set 01" hammers while the arms (Z, (Z oi all of the staples sare preferably of equal length. In some of the narrow treble hammers thearms (Z, (Z of the staple s will therefore extend farther than necessaryfrom the hammer and should be cut off, whilein the wider hammer s thearms d, 65 may extend from said felts only so far that the ends of saidarms (Z, d may be grasped by the twisting tool.

As shown in the drawings the mechanism is mounted on a base or table 11which is adapted to be supported in any well known manner. On this tableis mounted the main frame 12 having the upstanding members 13, 14, 14,15, and16, of which members 13 and 15 are supplied with bearings inwhich is j ournaled the main shaft 17 carrying the ratchet 18, and thedisk 19 having lug 20.

The belt pulley 21 with its drive pulley 22 is free to rotatecontinuously on shaft 17 and power is transmitted to said drive pulley22 by belt 23 from any source of power. The clutch by means of whichbelt pulley 21 is, at times, connected with shaft 17 includes theratchet 18 and the disk 19 and is of well known construction to behereafter described. It is to be noted that the clutch used forconnecting pulley 21 to shaft 17 should be of a nature to automaticallyeffect a re lease of such connection at or about the completion of asingle rotation of said shaft 17.

On shaft 17 is the annular collar 24 having at the side next to theafter mentioned frame 27, a cam face which as to its major part is in aplane perpendicular to its axis, and has at one point a recess 25, andimmediately adjacent to su"h recess a rise 25. Said recess is adapted topartially receive the spherical member 26 which is mounted between thearms of the lever frame 27 these latter at their lower portions havingstuds 28, 28 journaled in the upstanding frame members 14, 14, while theupper portion of this lever frame has the adjustable screw pin 29. Inthe position of rest the cam recess 25 is o'cupied by the member 26, and

when collar 24 is caused to rotate the cam edge of recess 25 actsagainst member 26 to drive outward said member 26 and thus to effect theswinging of frame 27 to thrust forward its pin 29, the riding of theedge of rollar 24 against said member 26 efiecting the holding of frame27 in the forward position until said cam recess 25 is again broughtinto registry with member 26. In this rotation of the collar 24 the camprojection 25' is carried away from the member 26.

On the main frame 12 at one side of the ratchet 18' are the bearings 30and 31 in whi h the shaft 32 is journaled On said shaft 32 is fixed thearm 33 having the prov jection 34 furnished with a guide bore throughwhi h the pin 35 extends to act against the frame member 36. This pin 35has the spring 37 acting against the projection 34'of arm 33 to presssaid projection 34 toward the stop nut 38 adjustably mounted on said pin35. Arm 33 has at one side the outstanding stud 39 and the clamp 40. On

- said stud 39 is pivoted the pawl 41 having the projection 42 adaptedto be intercepted by the stop screw 43 of said clamp 40, the latterbeing provided with spring 44, bearing against the free end of pawl 41,and with the stop screw 45 acting against stop 46 of bearing 31, seeFig. 3, to limit the swinging of arm 33 toward ratchet 18. From arm 33extends rod 47 having the extension 48 with a stop on its end to limitthe movement of the holder member 49 which is slidable on said extension48 against the action of its spring 50 and has the projection 51 toengage the lug 20 of disk 19.

Shaft 32, at times, is caused to rock in its bearings by mechanismoperating in con junction with lever 52 which is fixed to said shaft 32and has the outer end 53 of a shape to be releasably engaged by thecomplemental end portion 54 of the actuator 55 which latter extendsthrough an opening in table 11 and is pivotally connected with the shortarm 56 of the lever 57 pivotally sustained by the bracket .58 dependingfrom said table 11. Actuator 55 has the cross pin 59 adapted to limitthe swinging movementof said actuator under tension of its spring 60 bycontact with the vertical edge 61 of member 62, fixed on said table 11,and also adapted on the downward movement of said a tuator 55 to rideover the outwardly in-- clined guide edge 63 of said member 62 'to effet the swinging of the end 54 of said actuator, against the action ofspring 60, out of engagement with the end 53 of lever 52. Lever 57 isadapted to be actuated by means of the conne'ting rod 64 and the treadle65 of a well known construction.

Belt pulley 21 transmits motion through the crossed belt 66 to thepulley 67 rotatably mounted in a suitable position in the machine andhaving the belt pulley 68, of smaller diameter than pulley 67. From saidpulley 68 motion is transmitted by belt 69 to pulley 70 free on theshaft 71 win 11 latter is journaled in bearings of the bracket 72beneath the table 11 and has the ratchet 73,

vthe disk 74 having lug 75 and the bevel gear 76. Ratchet 73 and disk 74constitute members of a cluth similar to that shown in Figs. 11 and 12adapted to effect connection of belt pulley 70 with shaft 71 at times.

Bracket 72 has the extension frame 77 carrying the bearing 78 and thestop member 79 spaced below said bearing. Journaled in said bearing 78is the shaft 80 having the arm 81 sustained by, and adapted to followthe movement of, the step 570 of lever 57. Said shaft 80 supports thearms 82 and 83 extending from the sleeve 84 which latter has theprojection 85 furnished with the slidable pin 86 furnished with the adjustable stop nut 87 and with the coil spring 88 which. acts to slidesaid pin 86 longitu dinally where such spring projected pin 86 may actto yieldingly resist the swinging of 1 ,eoopea a the projection towardthe stop 79. Arm 82 has the stop pins 89 and 90 and the spring 91 whichlatter bears against the pawl 92 pivoted on the pin. 93, extending fromarm 83, and having the extension 94 against which stop pin 90 bearswhile stop pin 89 is intercepted by the stop 79 to limit the swing ingmovement of arm 82 in the direction for engaging its pawl 92 withratchet 73.

Arm 83 has the rod 95 having the portion 96 of smaller diameterfurnished with the stop 97 and the spring 98 which latter bears againstthe member 99, slidable on said rod portion 96 a degree limited by thelarger end of rod 95, and having the face 100 adapted to engage the lug7 5 of disk 74.

Also mounted at the under side of table 11 is the bracket or frame 101which corre sponds approximately in position with the frame plate 111 atthe upper surface of said table. The frame 101 has a bearing in which isjournaled the shaft 102 having the bevel gear 103, which is driven bythe bevel gear 76, and the cam 104 against which rides the bearing roll105 of the bell crank lever 106 which latter is pivotally mounted on astud extending from a depending member of said frame 101. Pivotallyconnected with said bell crank 106 is the rod 107 which extends upwardthrough an opening in table 11 and is pivotally connected with the lever108 on a shaft 109 this latter being journaled in a bearing of theupstanding member 110 of frame plate 111. Lever 108 is fixedly connectedwith the cam and holder arm 112 and with the hammer actuator member 113.Arm 112 has the upper cam edge 114 and is adapted to be engaged with andsustained by the shouldered end 115 of the pawl 116 pivotally mounted onan extension of frame 110 and having the bevel tooth or lug 117. Thefree end of this pawl 116 is acted upon by the tension spring 118 tomaintain said pawl in. position to sustain the end of arm 112. Spring119 is connected with said hammer actuator 113 and a fixed part of themachine and acts to operate said actuator in its forward or workingstroke and said spring 119 is of a sufficient strength to accomplish thedesired operation of said actuator. At the upper portion of frame 110 ismounted the horizontal guide 120 in which is slidable the rod 121engaged with the upper end of actuator 113 and having the head 122'furnished with the hammer 123 pivoted to swing laterally a limiteddegree and returned to its normal position by its spring.

Frame member 15 has at its upper portion the bearing 124 which isparallel with shaft 17. In this hearing 124 is journaled the tubularshaft 125 having the small gear 126 which is driven by the large gear127 of said shaft 17 the preferred relative diameters of these gears 126and 127 being as one I to three.

The bore of shaft 125 is shouldered to furnish an abutment for the forward end of retracting spring 128 of the jaw operating rod 129 whichlatter is slid able in said bore and is adapted to be moved in theoperative direction by pin 29 of the swinging frame 27. On said tubularshaft 125 is mounted the frame 130 having the pivoted jaws 131, 131 theoperating members 132, 132 of which are so shaped that under apredetermined closing pressure said jaw members 132, 132 may grasp apair of wires and, thereafter, under a further closing pressure said jawmembers 132, 132 may effect the cutting of said wires. Such pressuresare efi'ected on the jaws 131, 131 by means of the toggle links 133.133, pivotally connected to said jaws 131, 131 and to the rod 129 undersuitable movement of said rod, and the opening of said jaws 131, 131 iseffected by said rod 129 when retracted by its spring 128.

The upper portion of frame member 16 is furnished with the guide 134 inwhich is slidable the member 135 having the extension 136. From saidmember 135 extends the stud 137 against which bears the arm 138 which ispivotally sustained on a pivot of the lug 139 extending from the base11. This arm 138 has the pivoted rod 140 bent to extend toward the framemember 110, see Fig. 2, and having the hook element 141 (Fig. 6) adaptedto engage the bevel lug 117 of pawl 116 when said rod 140 is advanced bythe forward swinging movement of arm 138.

From said frame member 16 extends the stud shaft 142 carrying thepivoted lever 143 the arm 144 of which has the member 145 which bearsagainst the sleeve or roll on stud 137 of slide member 135, undertension of spring 146 attached to said arm 144 and to said stud 137. Onsaid shaft 142 is car ried the spring 147 which is engaged with a pin onlever arm 144 and acts to swing said arm in the retractive direction.Lever 143 is actuated against the resistance of spring 147 by means ofthe connecting rod 148 adjustable in length and connected with saidlever 143 and also with lever 57 Secured to the rear portion of guide134 is the stop blade 149, and to the forward portion of said guide. 134is secured the bracket 150 having the sleeve or socket 151.

in which is adjustably mounted the pin or rod 152 having the stop member153 located adjacent the opening between the jaw members 132, 132 andadapted to limit the approach of an article, suitably fed, toward saidjaws. I

The work carrier 154 has a rib slidably mounted in a transverse guide ofthe extension 136, said carrier 154 being transversely adjustable bymeans of the screw 155 in any well known manner. On its upper portion 7this work carrier 154 has the angle frame 156, to receive the curved endportion 6 of a piano hammer, and the stop 157 against which the shank aof said hammer may bear. Also mounted on the upper portion of carrier154 is secured the plate 158 having a pivot on which is pivoted the arm159 having the projection 160 and the pusher member 161 which latteracts against the end of the hammer shank a, when the latter is inposition, when the actuating spring 162 of said arm 159 is permitted toswing said arm. With the carrier 154 in the retracted position shown inFig. 2, the projection 160, of arm 159, acting against plate 149 causesthe arm 159 to swing outward against the tension of spring 162.

The construction of clutch preferably used to effect connection betweenthe respective shafts 17 and 71 and their driving mechanism are similarand. will be understood by reference to Figs. 11 and 12. The memberhaving ratchet 18 is fixed to the shaft, as 17, to be driven and has thesleeve 180 having cam ways 181, 181 to receive rolls 182, 182 whichrolls are adapted under suitable shifting action of said member 18 toeffect driving engagement with the cam ways 210, 210 of pulley 21 of thedrive pulley 22. Between ratchet member 18 and pulley 21, the diskmember 19 is rotatable on said sleeve 180 and is connected by spring183with said ratchet member 18. Disk member 19 has the sleeve 190 extendingbetween the sleeve 180 and the bore of pulley 21 and having hearings inwhich said rolls 182, 182 are ro tatable. When the ratchet 18 with shaft17 is approaching the limit of its rotation pawl 41 will be in positionto ride against the teeth of said ratchet and resist its reactingrotation while lug 20 of disk 19 will engage projection 51 of slidemember 49 and operate said slide member against the resistance of itsspring 48 until the resistance of said spring overcomesthe inertia ofsaid disk 19 and effects the shifting of said disk backward whereby thebearings of sleeve 190 will carry their rolls 182, 182 out of engagementwith the respective ways 181 and 210 whereby drive pulley 22 and beltpulley 20 may continue to rotate without driving shaft 17. 7 When shaft32 is caused to rock, by the mechanism above described, and pawl 41 andprojection 51 are moved from their holding position spring 183 acts toeffect a relative shifting of ratchet member 18 and disk member 19 toaccomplish the driving connection between the pulley 20 and ratchet 18to shaft 17. In such disengaging movement of shaft 32, caused by theengagement of the end of lever 52 by the part 54 of actuator 55 andthe'downward movement of said actuator the pin 59 of said actuator ridesover the inclined guide edge 63 of member 62 to effect the swinging ofpart 54 of said actuator out of engagement with the end of lever 53whereupon shaft 32 may rotate reactively by the weight and leverage ofthe part 39 to permit the ratchet 41 and slide member 49 and theirrelated parts to swing back to position to engage said ratchet 18 andlug 20 of disk 19.

Prior to the operation of this machine, after suitable adjustment of itsparts, a piano hammer similar to that shown in Fig. 7, in which has beeninserted the wire staple s with the projecting ends d, (Z is placed onthe work carrier or table 154 approximately in the position shown inFig. 2, the ende of the hammer engaged by the angle frame 156 and thehammer arm or shank a in contact with the stop 157, the ends d, d of thestaple extending toward and in line with the space between the open jawmembers 132, 132. Treadle 65 is now depressed, causing the downwardswinging of lever 57 against the resistance of its spring 57 and of thespring 147 of lever 142. The short lever member 56 of lever 57 also isthus caused to swing downward.

The initial downward action of lever 57 efiects the swinging of bellcrank lever 143 whereby work carrier 154 is advancedtoward said jawmembers 132, 132, the first result of which movement is that projection160 of the hub of arm 159 is relieved from stop plate 149 and permitsspring 162 to draw said arm 159 to the position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 2 with its pusher member 161 bearing against the end ofthe hammer arm A. The work carrier 154 continues its advance until theside of the piano hammer bears against stop 153 at which time the endsd, d of the staple s extend between the jaw members 132, 132.

During such advancement of the work carrier the hammer release rod 140is car-. ried forward until its hook end 141 has passed over the toothor lug 117 of pawl 116 a considerable distance as it is intended thatpawl 116 shall not be released from thedetainer arm 112 of lever 108until the work carrier approaches its limit of retractive movement.

At or about the time the arms 03, cl of the wire staple s are broughtbetween the jaw members 132, 132 member 55 actuates lever 52 to rock theshaft 32 whereby arm 33 is caused to swing pawl'41 and projection 51 outof engagement respectively with ratchet 18. and member 20 therebypermitting the clutch members having such parts to effect drivingconnection, as above described, between pulley 21 and shaft 17 andeffecting the rotation of cam collar 24 and gear 127. As collar 24starts to rotate, its cam 25 forces bearing 26 of frame 27 to rideoutward until the annular edge of this collar 24 bears against saidbearing 26 with the result that frame 27 is caused to swing sufficientlyto act, through its pin 29, against rod 129, of the tubular shaft 125 toeffect the closing action of the jaws 131, 131 through links 133, 133,sufficiently to effect the grasping of the ends (5, (Z of the staple sbetween the jaw members 132, 132.

The rotation of gear 127 is transmitted through small gear 126 to shaft125 which carries the wire gripping jaws 131, 131 so that,approximately, at the time these jaws are closed to grip the staple endsd, cl said shaft 125 is caused to rotate at a speed relative to thediameters of said gears 127, 126. Preferably the gear 126 and shaft 125is caused to make three rotations to one rotation of shaft 17. As thelatter is about to complete its rotation the cam rise 25 passes bearing26 thus causing a sudden forward swinging of frame 27 and, through pin29, rod 129 and links 133, 133 closing jaws 131, 131 whereby aw members132, 132 effect the cutting away of the surplus lengths of the ends (6,(Z of the staple approximately as shown in Fig. 9. After cam rise 25passes bearing 26 said bearing drops into the recess of cam 25 and rod129 reacts under spring 128 to open the jaws 133, 133.

Before lever 57 completes its full downward movement pin 59 of memberrides against cam edge 63, see Fig. 3, and causes the end 54 of member55 to swing out of engagement with lever 52 thus allowing said lever 52to be swung upward and replacing pawl 41 and part 51 in their engagingposition.

When treadle 65 is released lever 57 is swung upward by its spring 57assisted by bell crank lever 143 and its spring 147 and in such returnmovement of lever 143 its bearing 145 acts against the sleeve of stud137 to return the work carrier 154 and its carriage 149 to normalposition. Said sleeve of stud 137 acts against the pivoted arm 138 thusdrawing backward rod 140.

Somewhat before work carrier 154 reaches its retracted position the hookend 141 of rod 140 engages the lug117 of pawl 116 and draws said pawl inthe direction indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and, approximately assaid work carrier 154 reaches its retracted position, releases the end115 of said pawl 116 from the holding arm 112 of lever 108 thuspermitting spring 119 to suddenly advance arm 113 to drive forward rod121 whereby hammer 123 is caused to strike the outstanding twistedtogether ends of wires al, (Z and bend said twisted ends d, (2 againstand into the felt 0 of the piano hammer somewhat as is disclosed in Fig.10.

After a certain swinging of pawl 116 its lug 117 reaches a point ofdisengagement with hook 141 of rod 140 and spring 118 draws said pawl116 backward until it bears against cam edge 114 of stop arm 112.

During the "upward movement of lever 57 its step 570 lifts lever 81 torock shaft 80 thereby swinging arm 82 and rod 95 upward to release pawl92 and member 100 from their engagement respectively with the ratchet 73and the lug 75 of the clutch members which, under action of their springas described in relation to Figs. 11 and 12, effect the connection ofbelt pulley with shaft 71 and through said shaft 71 and the bevel ears76 and 103 drives the cam shaft 102. in the rotation of the cam shaft102 its cam 104 acts against the bearing 105 of bell crank lever 108 toswing said lever and, through connecting rod 107 to operate lever 108 toswing arm 113 and return slide rod 121 and its hammer 123 to theinoperative position. In such movement of lever 108 its stop arm 112, bymeans of its cam 114, causes pawl 116 to swing until the end 115 of saidpawl receives and holds the end of said stop arm 112 as shown in 1* ig.6.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and'desire to secureby Letters Patent.

1. A machine for twisting wires comprising a wire twisting device havingwire gripping jaws, normally disconnected automatic driving mechanismfor said device, means to hold an article having extended wires, andrelated mechanisms arranged and acting to advance said holding means tosaid twisting device, and to connect said driving mechanism with thetwisting device.

2. A machine for twisting wires comprising a wire twisting device havingwire cutting jaws, a rotatable shaft carrying said twisting device,means to feed an article having extended wires to said twisting. device,and means comprising an endwise movable member connected to the jaws ofsaid device and contained within said shaft to operate said twistingdevice to first grip said wires and subsequently to out said wires.

3. A machine for operating on wires of piano hammers of'the naturedescribed comprising a wire twisting device having a wire gripper, afeeding means adapted to hold the work piece and being movable to bringthe work piece to said twisting device, spring actuated wire bendingmeans normally held inoperative in a potentially active position fromwhich it is spring-propelled when released, means actuated through amovement of said feeding means to release said wire bending means, andautomatic positive mechanism for re turning the bending means to theprevious position.

4. A machine for twisting wires comprising a rotary wire gripper havingwire cutting means, means including a power driven element and anormally disconnected clutch to operate said gripper first to grip andsubsequently to cut wires presented thereto, a feeding device to feed anarticle having extended wiresto said gripper, and common operating meansfor advancing said feeding device and. then connecting said clutch toput said gripper operating means into action.

5. A machine for twisting wires comprising a rotary wire gripper havingwire cutting means, automatic normally disconnected mechanism to rotateand operate said gripper first to grip and subsequently to cut wirespresented thereto, a clutch for connecting said mechanism, a work holdermo vable to present an article having extended wires to said gripper,means to operate said work holder, and mechanism operated simultaneo slywith the operation of such work holder to effect the connection of saidclutch.

6. A machine for twisting wires comprising a rotary shaft having wiregripping and cutting jaws, automatic driving mechanism 7 including anormally. disconnected clutch and a gear arranged to be driven rotatablyin mesh with said shaft to effect a predetermined number of rotations ofsaid shaft, a rod movable endwise in said shaft linked to said jaws, acam acting on said rod to effect a partial closing of said jaws duringthe initial rotation of said shaft and a further closing of said jawsafter a series of rotations of said shaft, and means to feed forward apiano hammer having eX- tended wires to place said wires between saidjaws.

7. A machine for operating on wires of piano hammers comprising a pairof shafts having automatically releasable clutches. belt. pulleys onsaid shafts having. power transmitting belts, means to operate saidclutches in succession, a wire twisting and cutting deviceoperatedthrough one of said shafts, a spring operated wire bendingdevice retractively actuated by mechanism operated by the other of saidshafts, a piano hammer carriage movable to present the wires of a pianohammer thereon to said twisting device, and means to move said carriage,said latter means having connections whereby one of said clutchmechanisms is operated in the clutching direction through the advancingmovement of said carriage and the other. said clutching mechanism isactuated during retraction of said carriage.

8. A wire twisting machine comprising a and clutch controller havingconnections for first moving the holder to the twister, and then causingconnection of said clutch.

9. In a staple clenching machine, the combination with a work holder,and twisting mechanism for twisting together the ends of a staplepassing from a work piece held by said holder, of a clenching hammer tobend over the twisted ends, a spring for projecting said hammer, a latchfor holding it retracted, a cam, automatic mechanism for driving saidcam to retract the hammer, and control means for putting said camdriving mechanism in operation in time with other movements of themachine.

10. A staple clenching machine comprising in combination a work holderadapted to support a work piece holding a staple with projecting ends, atwisting device adapted to grasp and twist the ends of such staple, thework holder being movable toward and away from said twisting device,mechanism for rotating said twisting cevice when the work piece isbrought to it, a hammer for bending the twisted stapleends, a spring fordriving said hammer, a latch for holding said hammer retracted and saidspring under stress, the work holder in its movement away from thetwisting device being adapted to trip said latch. and release thehammer, a cam, power means for rotating said cam, a normallydisconnected clutchbetween said power means and cam, mechanism by whichrotation of the cam retracts said hammer to its latched position, and acontroller movable in opposite directions, and means by which saidcontroller when moved in one direction brings the work holder to thetwisting device, the controller when moved in the other direc tionhaving provision for connecting said clutch whereby thehammer-retracting cam is caused to act.

JAMES A. BUTLER.

